After an offseason of silence, the Washington Commanders drafted the Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, with their no. 2 pick. While Dan Quinn chose to remain tight-lipped about their quarterback position for the past few months, the team’s 2024 draft made up for all the suspense.

The franchise entered this offseason under a new ownership group, general manager, and head coach. With the clear aim of improving their 4-13 record from last year, an elite quarterback was the prime need of the Commanders. Now, as the draft wraps up, Quinn revealed what made them pin their hopes on the LSU product.

Dan Quinn reveals the two selling points of Jayden Daniels

Quinn brings years of experience to Washington and has constructed an intricate evaluation process throughout the years. So what was it that sold him on Daniels? During a recent conversation with the media, the new head coach finally divulged the details of the convincing factors that led him to pick the Heisman winner.

“I think anybody who had watched football could say this is a talented guy,” said the HC as uploaded by Ampire Media. “So I’d say over the last two months when I found out -you know, what was behind the rib cage, and this guy is tough, he’s competitive.” Quinn further quoted Daniels’ game against Florida, which highlighted the two things that cemented the coach’s belief in the LSU quarterback.

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“He spoke about the Florida game, but more importantly, that was probably what showed a lot of resilience. He had gotten banged up in the game prior to that, and so not to have a full week of practice and to kind of go out and put on that type of performance, I think those were the two things that jumped out to me, the dedication and the resilience.”

Already impressed with the “rare competitor,” Quinn would shoulder the responsibility of finessing Daniels’ raw talent and commitment into a potential NFL’s leading QB. However, it’s not just the rookie who the HC would be coaching, but the entire roster. So, with his first season with the Commanders, what are the challenges the former Dallas DC prepares to face?

Quinn shares the challenges of training a rookie

When a top rookie prospect joins a team, there isn’t any doubt about the talent the young player holds. What matters going forward is whether he is able to channel it in the correct way in the league and not turn into a draft bust. Zach Wilson suffered from the same fate when he was forced to take over Aaron Rodgers last season and couldn’t perform up to the expectations of his No. 2 position in the 2021 draft, incurring the wrath of the Jets fans.

Here is where the right coach can make a huge difference. Quinn stepped into that role with Daniels this year and was asked about the challenges he might face in coaching a hyped rookie. The HC started by saying that the QB would enter the team where “everyone is on the same page,” and the “veterans are only a few weeks ahead” when it comes to playing with the roster. However, what poses a challenge is football knowledge, according to Quinn.

“Some of the hardest parts about -coaching in the NFL and the early phases is a veteran who’s played five or six years has this knowledge has this [more] knowledge and a rookie coming in to here [less knowledge]. So imagine teaching English 101 and Masters English in the same day.” 

Dan Quinn sure has some big responsibility on his shoulders as the young LSU quarterback enters Washington with the hopes of elevating the team to its former glory. Do you think Daniels will prove to be the right pick for the Commanders? Please let us know in the comments!